Back to Business at Gaza Crossings Less Than a Week After Attack

Less than a week after two men were murdered in a terror attack at the Nahal Oz Crossing, Israel plans to resume fuel deliveries into Gaza.

By Hana Levi Julian

First Publish: 4/15/2008, 9:19 AM

Less than a week after Palestinian Authority terrorists murdered two workers at the Nahal Oz fuel terminal, Israel has decided to allow deliveries of fuel into Gaza to resume through the crossing. Gas for cars is not included.

Barring any unforeseen security problems – such as last week's barrage of 20 mortar shells that was rained upon Kibbutz Nahal Oz and the Nahal Oz Crossing, under cover of which four terrorists infiltrated the terminal and murdered two workers – the depot will re-open on Wednesday.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the decision came in response to a request by Egypt to allow cooking gas and diesel fuel for the Gaza power station. Barak noted that security concerns might cause delays in the procedures.

Despite last week’s attack, Israel has continued to allow hundreds of trucks to trundle through the Gaza crossings bearing humanitarian aid into the region.

A Foreign Ministry statement pointed out that the PA terrorists in Gaza tend to attack sites that cause the most damage to civilian life on both sides of the security barrier.

The statement read, “Terrorist organizations carry out terrorist attacks at civilian sites that contribute greatly to the welfare of the Palestinian population, such as crossings, while taking advantage of easing of restrictions on the Palestinian population, in order to sabotage the normal Palestinian daily life and any co-existence between Israelis and Palestinians.”